Robotics & Automation News

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Kuka releases new delta robot for which ‘hygiene is the essence’

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Kuka Robotics has launched a new delta robot for which “hygiene is of the essence”, according to the company.

Kuka says the new robot is made entirely of stainless steel and calls it “the hygiene robot”, adding that it “impressively performs challenging pick-and-place applications in the food and packaging industries”.

It also scores highly in the electronics and pharmaceutical industries with flexible application possibilities. [Read more…] about Kuka releases new delta robot for which ‘hygiene is the essence’

Kiwibot to provide new delivery robots to Chick-fil-A, Segway and Knight Foundation

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Kiwibot, a robotic delivery service that has completed over 150,000 food deliveries with semi-autonomous robots, is launching its next-generation Kiwibot 4.0. 

The robots are already cruising the streets of Santa Monica, and by the beginning of May 2021, for those who order through local Shopify-powered portals, the service will extend across Los Angeles, San Jose, Miami, Pittsburg, and Detroit.  [Read more…] about Kiwibot to provide new delivery robots to Chick-fil-A, Segway and Knight Foundation

Swisslog brings supply chain automation to vertical farming

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Swisslog, a provider of warehouse automation systems, is making a push into the vertical farming market and has demonstrated newly built technologies specifically designed for the sector. 

The company says its automation systems can bring scalability, flexibility and lower costs to vertical farming, allowing them to be installed and maintained in a wide range of pre-existing and purpose-built spaces.

These systems help broaden the applicability of growing crops and bring food production closer to consumers in densely populated urban areas. [Read more…] about Swisslog brings supply chain automation to vertical farming

Simple Ways that You Can Do Your Part for the Environment Using Tech

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Environmental concerns are on everyone’s minds in 2021. We are all looking for new ways to reduce our carbon emissions and promote ethical and eco-friendly practices.

As technology continues to advance, there are many ways that we can use tech in our daily lives to help reduce our impact on the environment. Here are some simple ways that you can incorporate green practices into your everyday life. [Read more…] about Simple Ways that You Can Do Your Part for the Environment Using Tech

Agriculture robotics startup Future Acres looking to raise $3 million

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Startup Future Acres is looking to raise $3 million to bring agricultural robotics to the farm industry in order to “optimize workforce efficiency”. 

The initiative to raise up to $3 million in seed capital is being organized through the equity crowdfunding site SeedInvest. The company is producing an autonomous, electric agricultural robotic harvest companion, named Carry, to help farmers gather hand-picked crops faster and with less physical demand.

At a time when farmers are tasked with producing more food than ever before to meet growing global population demands – predicted to get as high as 10 billion people by 2050 – limitations in labor and harvesting tools, in addition to environmental scrutiny, have prevented farmers from staying profitable and scaling their businesses. [Read more…] about Agriculture robotics startup Future Acres looking to raise $3 million

Postmates chosen as official robotic food delivery partner of the NFL

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Delivery robots company Postmates has been chosen as the official on-demand food delivery partner of the National Football League this season. (See video below.)

As part of its service, Postmates has teamed up with the NFL to tackle “one of the biggest issues Americans face” – food insecurity.

Through this partnership, Postmates says it has been able to tackle hunger in all 30 cities the 32 NFL teams call home, and “even got a few friends to help along the way”. [Read more…] about Postmates chosen as official robotic food delivery partner of the NFL

Norway’s Global Seed Vault reopens for first deposit of 2021

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The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, has reopened for the first deposit of 2021.

Sometimes referred to as a “doomsday vault”, it is a long-term seed storage facility with the capacity to store almost 5 million different seed samples from all over the world.

When construction began in 2006, the concept behind the seed vault was to ensure that Earth’s plant life can be replenished in the event of natural or manmade catastrophe. [Read more…] about Norway’s Global Seed Vault reopens for first deposit of 2021

SICK develops first IP69K incremental encoder with added ingress protection

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Encoder delivers hygienic, long-lasting reliability in demanding food and beverage environments, says SICK

Developed for long-lasting reliability despite frequent high-pressure chemical washdowns in demanding food and beverage applications, SICK’s DBS60I-W is the first IP69K incremental encoder with added ingress protection thanks to a new, patented deflector shield, according to the company.

The SICK DBS60I-W washdown encoder delivers all the high-resolution performance of SICK’s popular DBS60 incremental encoder but in a robust IP69K-rated, 316L (V4A) stainless steel housing.

The specially developed deflector shield is designed to protect the shaft seal from ingress of water and caustic chemicals during high-pressure washdown. As a result, the washdown encoder promises a long product life, protecting machine reliability and availability on food processing, bottling, and packaging lines. [Read more…] about SICK develops first IP69K incremental encoder with added ingress protection

Best Kitchen Equipment You Must Invest In

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Like a house, furniture, or a car, you must be careful while choosing the kitchen equipment.

These tools are going to be with you as long as a lifetime.

Therefore, ensure that you are investing in the tools that will help in your daily routine. [Read more…] about Best Kitchen Equipment You Must Invest In

Piab introduces soft gripper range for industrial robots

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Piab has introduced a soft gripper – or end effector – for industrial robots. The company says its piSoftGrip range is developed for the automation of the food and chocolate industry.

Piab once again extends the pi-SoftGrip family with a new pinch gripper developed for the automation of the food/chocolate industry. The vacuum-based soft gripper can grip sensitive and lightweight oblong objects with odd geometries and/or objects with an unusual surface.

piSoftGrip has two gripping fingers and a sealed vacuum cavity, all made in one piece, resulting in a simple and robust product. [Read more…] about Piab introduces soft gripper range for industrial robots